Predicting the awards to the players at the halfway mark
Hart Trophy
Conner McDavid
Overall, the best player in the NHL. Where would the Oilers be without him? Seriously a no-brainer. He has to be in on this trophy. Connor is being used in all situations from killing penalties to the power-play. He will be on the ice to send a game into overtime and will be on the ice to preserve a lead.
Nikita Kucherov
Well, duh. Of course, I have Kucherov in this conversation. He is the best right winger in the game today. He might be the best playmaker in the game. Kucherov is carrying this team on his shoulders. He is one of the most complete players in the game.
Johnny Gaudreau
Another obvious choice. Johnny Hockey is one of the best young forwards in the game. He is on a career year in goal assists and points, is part of one of the hottest lines in the NHL, and is one of the elite forwards in the game.
Selke Trophy
Patrice Bergeron
Patrice is one of the best defensive forwards in the game. He is a fantastic all-around forward. Bergeron is one of the best penalties killers in the game. A terrific faceoff man, valuable on the penalty-kill because he gives the Bruins a great chance to ice the puck right away or get control of the puck.
Sean Couturier
A gritty forward who will do whatever it takes to get a puck out of the zone. Sean always goes up against the top line of the opposition and gets all the tough assignments. A minus two plus minus on a very bad team is very impressive. He is a smart young player who leads by example.
Anze Kopitar
Anze is the Kings' best all-around forward. He continues to put 100 percent into every game. Kopitar is the leader of the Kings, the best defensive forwards in their lineup.
Calder Trophy
Elias Pettersson
There is Elias, and then there is everyone else. Pettersson is an elite forward. He is a smooth playmaker with a wrist shot that puts the fear of you-know-what into goalies. He is my prediction for rookie of the year.
Rasmus Dahlin
Sabres have a gem in Rasmus. Rasmus is the ultimate puck-moving defencemen who will only improve offensively. My only concern is his need to improve defensively. He needs to get stronger, and I think he will.
Brady Tkachuck
Brady is a power forward who can mix it up with best of them. Like his older brother, he plays with a chip on his shoulder. He just needs to keep his head up.
GM of the Year
Calgary Flames Brad Treliving
Brad is everyone's pick; he has done everything right. The only blemish is the signing of O'Neal, but there were a lot of teams that would have done the same. I was ecstatic when the Flames signed him. Right now, he is a sexy pick for the GM of the year.
NYI Islanders Lou Lamoriello
Lou has found the perfect combination of players to fit Barry Trotz's system. He is the man with a plan, and that plan has worked. A lot of people questioned him for bringing in Leo Komarov. Well, who is laughing now?
Montreal Canadiens Marc Bergevin
Who would have picked the Habs in a playoff spot this time of year? He has brought the perfect combination. The biggest gamble is Antti Niemi, who has proven to a good up to know. He has to bring one more piece to fight for a playoff spot. They are definitely one of the stories of the year.
Norris Trophy
Mark Giordano
Mark is on a career year at 35 years old. He is a miracle—right now he is one of the best in the League. Giordano is one of the smartest players when it comes to pitching in; he seems to know when to step into the fray and when not to. He is a great playmaking defender who can distribute the puck to the defencemen.
Brent Burns
Brent has shot that breaks bones. Brent is a terrific powerplay quarterback who can hit a one-timer with the best of them. He uses his strength to his advantage, often outworking the opposition to get into scoring positions.
Victor Hedman
Hedman is one of my favourites. He is slick puck-moving defencemen. He does everything that is asked of him and more. He is easily the Bolts' best defencemen. Without him, they would be at a loss. Heman is one of the best in the Leagues and is the perfect dman to go with Stamkos.
Vezina Trophy
Robin Lehner
Lehner is on a mission to bring the Isles into the playoffs. He is playing for one reason only, and that is the playoffs. He has been outstanding all season. Rob gives the Isles every chance to win.
Andrei Vasilevskiy
Where would the Bolts be without Andrei? He has been their number one all season. He is second in the NHL in save percentage. Has been a rock all season with the Bolts and is the reason they are a force.
Marc-Andre Fleury
Fleury leads the NHL in shutouts and wins. He is the glue that holds everything together. He is one of the most consistent goalies in the League—consistently good. Marc-Andre is the reason Vegas has a chance to win every night.
Thursday, January 31, 2019
Wednesday, January 30, 2019
What do the Leafs get with Muzzin?
What do you get with Jake Muzzin? Another puck-moving dman who can play in his own end. It is a terrific move. He has dreamed of playing for the Leafs since he was a kid. Jake brings a stability to the defence that the Maple Leafs have not had in years. There were significant concerns that necessitated bringing Muzzin in. There was too much pressure on the offence to score four goals a game in order to win. Reilly has been begging for another defenceman to help him out. He can relax now that he does not have to be Superman.
Muzzin adds another element that a tremendous asset. The powerplay has been running stale. Adding another element might be just what the doctor ordered for the Maple Leafs. Gardenier may become available if the price is right. The Leafs have an all-in mentality; they can compete with anyone.
The danger now is that the Maple Leafs are connected to all sorts of players from Wayne Simmons to Colton Parayko. The Leafs feel they are one or two players away from the Cup. There are options for trade bait from the Marlies. Timothy Liljegren, Rasmus Sandin, and forward Jeremy Bracco are the top three best options. Could Haymen become available for a bigger fish? The time is now. Tavas and Matthews have to take leadership. They need to take the bull by the horns. Hang on; it is going to be a wild ride.
Thursday, January 24, 2019
The People of Twitter
In this blog, I thought I would introduce some of my favourites personalities in Twitter's hockey world. I have some excellent peeps you should consider following.
@NHL_Campbell
Scott is a veteran with insight into how the NHL used to be. Great understanding of the Winnipeg Jets. If you want an honest opinion and not the conventional one, Scott is one of my favourites. A great hockey mind who is one of the best in the field. You can find his column here.
@P_Kreischer
I have known Paul for almost ten years, and we have had many discussions on a wide range of NHL topics. He is a passionate and valuable hockey insider. You can follow his podcast here. It is a terrific site for Isles fans.
@Proteautype
Adam gave me a huge break when he gave me his first interview. He is an entertaining hockey follow and will keep you in stitches. Adam is an informative hockey mind. He will make you think and bring you new insight.
@sportsology
He is one of the best prospects reporters in the game. There is no one that I know of that is better at his game. He respects your views and loves to talk hockey anytime. He also reports on baseball.
@MurphysLaw74
A connected reporter for the Boston Bruins. I love his insight, and he often has inside info on what is going on the hockey world. A worthy follow who knows his stuff. He has a lot of insight into the Boston Bruins, but has contacts all over the NHL.
@Eklund
Eklund gave me my first blogging experience. He often has discussions about all aspects of the games. He respects everyone and their opinions, I have often had in-depth discussions with him. He welcomes all opinions and ideas and is always willing to talk hockey.
@MikeInBuffalo
Mike is a great beat reporter on my favourites teams. He has up-to-date info on the Maple Leafs. He has strong opinions on the directions of the Leafs. He debates on all issues in the NHL.
@ugh
If you want to know about the Edmonton Oilers, Ugh is your man. He has insights on the Oilers and many more. If you want unbiased opinions, then don't follow him. He is blunt and honest will voice his thoughts: good, bad, or ugly. He says it like it is. A must-follow.
@slapschotts
Ken Schott is a veteran hockey reporter with 25 years' experience. He is an acknowledged hockey man who covered Union and ECAC for 25 years. He gave me a terrific interview during the year, which really helped build my rep. Ken loves and lives hockey, and is an excellent source to learn what it takes to become a premium hockey player. Ken writes for The Daily Gazette. You can find his blog here.
@NHL_Campbell
Scott is a veteran with insight into how the NHL used to be. Great understanding of the Winnipeg Jets. If you want an honest opinion and not the conventional one, Scott is one of my favourites. A great hockey mind who is one of the best in the field. You can find his column here.
@P_Kreischer
I have known Paul for almost ten years, and we have had many discussions on a wide range of NHL topics. He is a passionate and valuable hockey insider. You can follow his podcast here. It is a terrific site for Isles fans.
@Proteautype
Adam gave me a huge break when he gave me his first interview. He is an entertaining hockey follow and will keep you in stitches. Adam is an informative hockey mind. He will make you think and bring you new insight.
@sportsology
He is one of the best prospects reporters in the game. There is no one that I know of that is better at his game. He respects your views and loves to talk hockey anytime. He also reports on baseball.
@MurphysLaw74
A connected reporter for the Boston Bruins. I love his insight, and he often has inside info on what is going on the hockey world. A worthy follow who knows his stuff. He has a lot of insight into the Boston Bruins, but has contacts all over the NHL.
@Eklund
Eklund gave me my first blogging experience. He often has discussions about all aspects of the games. He respects everyone and their opinions, I have often had in-depth discussions with him. He welcomes all opinions and ideas and is always willing to talk hockey.
@MikeInBuffalo
Mike is a great beat reporter on my favourites teams. He has up-to-date info on the Maple Leafs. He has strong opinions on the directions of the Leafs. He debates on all issues in the NHL.
@ugh
If you want to know about the Edmonton Oilers, Ugh is your man. He has insights on the Oilers and many more. If you want unbiased opinions, then don't follow him. He is blunt and honest will voice his thoughts: good, bad, or ugly. He says it like it is. A must-follow.
@slapschotts
Ken Schott is a veteran hockey reporter with 25 years' experience. He is an acknowledged hockey man who covered Union and ECAC for 25 years. He gave me a terrific interview during the year, which really helped build my rep. Ken loves and lives hockey, and is an excellent source to learn what it takes to become a premium hockey player. Ken writes for The Daily Gazette. You can find his blog here.
Thursday, January 17, 2019
You have to feel for Jake
You have to feel for Jake Gardinier, the way the fans went crazy. Granted, he made bonehead mistakes against the Avs. So you want to be a Maple Leaf? I am not so sure Jake is questioning his decision right now. I am the first to admit that he has not been good this season. He has made so many defensive mistakes this season because he tries too hard.
Gardenier has all the talent in the world. He needs to improve in the defensive zone. He knows better. He needs to stay calm and stop being nervous with the puck. He seems to think too much with the puck.
As a whole, the Leafs have to improve there defensive play in their own zone. Way too many turnovers. The forwards are too busy going up and not giving the defence a target for the puck. Six or seven turnovers a game is just inexcusable. No matter how much offence you have, you cannot overcome the turnover machine in your zone.
There is another eyesore in the lineup, and his name is Nylander. He is struggling. He seems to be a step behind in his play. HIs offence has struggled, along with his defence. It is just a matter of confidence.
Bad turns to worse. The offence has dried up. The sticks have gone cold. When teams are struggling defensively, they overwork themselves in the offence game, knowing they will have score four to five goals a game. They are pressuring themselves, gripping the stick and sometimes trying to make something out of nothing. Maybe the better part of valour is to throw the puck into the zone instead of trying to make that impossible pass. Simple mistakes can become mental blocks, missing the open net, fanning on the show. This is often because the players are pressing too hard. My favourite saying is that if you take care of the defence, the offence will take care of itself. Simply put, find magical dmen who will help in the defensive end.
The Maple Leafs may very well turn to the Panthers for solutions. They are shopping Bogdan Kiselevich. He would be a good fit for the defence. Or Sabres Nathan Beaulieu. The problem in both cases is that they are within the same division. Brandon Montour from the Ducks would cost an awful lot. The Kings are rumoured to be shopping Jake Muzzin; he might be the best fit of all
Gardenier has all the talent in the world. He needs to improve in the defensive zone. He knows better. He needs to stay calm and stop being nervous with the puck. He seems to think too much with the puck.
As a whole, the Leafs have to improve there defensive play in their own zone. Way too many turnovers. The forwards are too busy going up and not giving the defence a target for the puck. Six or seven turnovers a game is just inexcusable. No matter how much offence you have, you cannot overcome the turnover machine in your zone.
There is another eyesore in the lineup, and his name is Nylander. He is struggling. He seems to be a step behind in his play. HIs offence has struggled, along with his defence. It is just a matter of confidence.
Bad turns to worse. The offence has dried up. The sticks have gone cold. When teams are struggling defensively, they overwork themselves in the offence game, knowing they will have score four to five goals a game. They are pressuring themselves, gripping the stick and sometimes trying to make something out of nothing. Maybe the better part of valour is to throw the puck into the zone instead of trying to make that impossible pass. Simple mistakes can become mental blocks, missing the open net, fanning on the show. This is often because the players are pressing too hard. My favourite saying is that if you take care of the defence, the offence will take care of itself. Simply put, find magical dmen who will help in the defensive end.
The Maple Leafs may very well turn to the Panthers for solutions. They are shopping Bogdan Kiselevich. He would be a good fit for the defence. Or Sabres Nathan Beaulieu. The problem in both cases is that they are within the same division. Brandon Montour from the Ducks would cost an awful lot. The Kings are rumoured to be shopping Jake Muzzin; he might be the best fit of all
Thursday, January 10, 2019
Half season coach awards
This is my first blog for my Islander friends. I have a list of three surprise "coach of the year" candidates.
The first surprise of the season is the Montreal Canadians. The Habs look like a well-coached hockey team. Claude Julien has done an incredible job bringing the Canadians to the big boys' club. The key to their success this season is that they have managed to win without Price. This is a fantastic feat that they could not achieve last year.
The Habs should have been a lottery team, yet Julien has them believing in themselves and skating and working hard. The forwards keep their feet moving. They are not standing still. They may not be the most talented, but Claude has brought hard work back to Montreal. I consider the Habs one of the surprises of the season.
The next obvious choice is in Western Canada. A good old fashioned man's man, Bill Peters has the Flames running smoothly on all cylinders. The Flames were expected to battle for the playoff. As it stands, they are leading the Pacific division. I, for one, did not foresee the Flames' offence exploding this year. Gaudreau, Longholm, and Monahan have made the Flames one of the most explosive teams in the league. Peters has a system. He is teaching the Flames to adapt and do whatever it takes to win.
My third choice is Mr. Barry Trotz. He has built a system that works perfectly for the Islanders: take care of the defence first, and the offence will take care of itself. Their in-your-face attitude gives them a ton of grit. With Barzal, Lee, and Nelson on offence, you have the recipe for a winner. This team is a full dessert with a tart taste to it. Your sweet players, as I said before, are Nelson, Barzal, and Lee. Add smooth skating players Bailey, Beauvillier, and Eberle. Then there are the ingredients with bite: Martin, Leo Komarov, and Filppula. All of these ingredients are nothing without a chef to pull it all together. Trotz seems to know just the right amount of heat to put on these players to bring it all together.
The first surprise of the season is the Montreal Canadians. The Habs look like a well-coached hockey team. Claude Julien has done an incredible job bringing the Canadians to the big boys' club. The key to their success this season is that they have managed to win without Price. This is a fantastic feat that they could not achieve last year.
The Habs should have been a lottery team, yet Julien has them believing in themselves and skating and working hard. The forwards keep their feet moving. They are not standing still. They may not be the most talented, but Claude has brought hard work back to Montreal. I consider the Habs one of the surprises of the season.
The next obvious choice is in Western Canada. A good old fashioned man's man, Bill Peters has the Flames running smoothly on all cylinders. The Flames were expected to battle for the playoff. As it stands, they are leading the Pacific division. I, for one, did not foresee the Flames' offence exploding this year. Gaudreau, Longholm, and Monahan have made the Flames one of the most explosive teams in the league. Peters has a system. He is teaching the Flames to adapt and do whatever it takes to win.
My third choice is Mr. Barry Trotz. He has built a system that works perfectly for the Islanders: take care of the defence first, and the offence will take care of itself. Their in-your-face attitude gives them a ton of grit. With Barzal, Lee, and Nelson on offence, you have the recipe for a winner. This team is a full dessert with a tart taste to it. Your sweet players, as I said before, are Nelson, Barzal, and Lee. Add smooth skating players Bailey, Beauvillier, and Eberle. Then there are the ingredients with bite: Martin, Leo Komarov, and Filppula. All of these ingredients are nothing without a chef to pull it all together. Trotz seems to know just the right amount of heat to put on these players to bring it all together.
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